The President declared that Prinsloo was nothing more
than a private burgher; but Commandant Olivier was
not satisfied with this, and asked that there might be
an election of a Commander-in-Chief. This request,
however, the President refused to grant.

I did not wish the office of Commander-in-Chief
to devolve upon myself, for I knew that I did not
possess the confidence of the officers. And as some
eight miles to the east of Lindley there was telegraphic
communication with Bethlehem, I was able to hold a
conversation with the President over the wires. I
accordingly again asked him to permit an election.
But it was all in vain; the President declined to allow
an election to take place.

I now took matters into my own hands. I collected
the officers together with the object of holding a secret
election. Thus I should discover what their opinion
of me might be as chief of the Free State forces. I
was firmly resolved that should the majority of the
officers be against me, and the President should still
refuse his consent to an election, that I would send in
my resignation, and no longer continue to hold the
post of Commander-in-Chief.

Commander-in-Chief Hattingh, Vechtgeneraal Roux,
and all the oldest commandants of the Free State, were
present at this meeting. The voting was by ballot;
and the result was that there were two votes for
General Marthinus Prinsloo, one for General Piet de
Wet, and twenty-seven for myself.

I at once wired to the President, and told him
what had occurred. He was ready to abide by the
decision, and I was satisfied now that I knew exactly
where I stood. Mr. Marthinus Prinsloo was also
contented with the turn events had taken. And I
must say this of him, that it was not he who had
insisted on an election.

It soon became apparent that the enemy's object
was the capture of Bethlehem. The English forces
round Senekal advanced towards Lindley, and having

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